Aliphatic carboxylic acids manufactured from petrochemicals are widely used today as building blocks for several types of coating systems, including hardeners for epoxy resins and components of polyesters. The chemical structure of the acid has a significant effect on the coatings properties. Today, the focus in chemical manufacturing is shifting from traditional synthesis of chemicals from petrochemical feedstock towards development of chemicals from bio-based raw materials using either chemical or biological processing. This method of manufacturing not only enables more sustainable products, but also allows us to utilize many new and novel chemical structures that have not been commercially available before.<br/>As more new polycarboxylic acids become available from renewable feedstock, their use in coatings applications could prove advantageous because of the unique properties they can provide. Thus, the use of new bio-based carboxylic acids as components of polyester or epoxy-acid systems could lead to coatings with improved adhesion, durability, hardness, flexibility/ductility, and corrosion performance.<br/>A set of new functional bio-based di- and tricarboxylic acids that can be useful as components of sustainable coatings and can be produced from renewable feedstock on a commercial scale have been identified. Using selected acids in polyesters and epoxy-acid coating formulations, we developed a series of novel sustainable coatings. The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the developed materials can be adjusted over the broad range by varying the nature of the acid component.

Bio-based carboxylic acids as components of sustainable coating systems

255th National Meeting (2018)

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